Why Hair Serums Are Your Secret Weapon to Healthier Scalp and Lengths

Healthy hair requires more than just a regular trim and minimizing heat damage. It starts at the root: taking care of your scalp with the best hair serums, thickening shampoos, and leave-in restorative treatments. Though it may seem like some are born with shampoo commercial-worthy hair, chances are they’re investing plenty of time and care into maintaining its beauty behind the scenes. At the very least, they are washing it properly.

“In order to achieve a healthy head of hair, it is mandatory that the hair follicles are kept clean, clear, and well maintained, meaning they aren’t weighed down by serum or products or obstructed by things like dead skin, dandruff, or inflammation,” explains New York City trichologist Bridgette Hill, also known as The Scalp Therapist. “Simply put, our hair-fiber formation and growth begin below the skin—by the time the hair protrudes from the hair follicle, it has already been formed.” And so to improve hair quality, you must work to reinvigorate and reawaken the follicle at the scalp—which is where hair serums come into play.

Vogue’s Favorite Exfoliating Scalp Serums

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Best for Brittle Hair

Augustinus Bader The Scalp Treatment

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Look to the best hair serums for lightweight nourishment that not only strengthens hair fibers but also improves styling capabilities. As Hill puts it, serums offer more slip than creams while providing the “coating and protection hair needs without making it feel dirty, heavy, greasy, and motionless.” With this in mind, read on to discover why we consider these 10+ options the best hair serums on the market right now.

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Best for Clarifying and Reducing Buildup: Vegamour Gro Scalp Detoxifying Hair Treatment Serum

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Vegamour

Gro Scalp Detoxifying Hair Treatment Serum

Why We Love It: With Vegamour’s detoxifying hair-treatment serum, expect a more balanced, build-up-free scalp powered by the brand’s proprietary vegan silk protein. “It’s packed with some of the most research-backed ingredients for hair growth,” board-certified dermatologist Asmi Berry previously told Vogue. “Caffeine energizes follicles and stimulates blood flow, while peptides strengthen the hair shaft to minimize breakage. Add in tea tree oil, which soothes the scalp and reduces inflammation, and you’ve got a product that’s ideal for creating a healthy foundation for hair growth. It’s a great option for those looking for a targeted scalp treatment.”
Key Ingredients: Caffeine, zinc, evening primrose/ red clover, tea trea oil, vegan silk protein
How to Apply: Massage evenly onto dry or damp scalp, leave in for three to five minutes, and rinse.
Best For: Flaky/dry scalp, shine, and oily scalp
Size: 60 ml

Best for Brittle Hair: Augustinus Bader The Scalp Treatment

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Why We Love It: Infused with the brand’s TFC8 technology as well as maca root, hazel leaf, watercress, and Indian cress, Augustinus Bader’s The Scalp Treatment looks to strengthen hair overall by optimizing the cellular environment. “The theory about aging that’s behind [our skin-care] developments is that we have less and less access to repairing environments—the cells that sit on the scalp also need a healthy environment,” Augustinus Bader told Vogue in 2021 when the product first launched. Just massage this lightweight formula into the scalp to reinvigorate follicles, prevent damage, and retain moisture.
Key Ingredients: TFC8, L-Arginine, multi-mineral active complex
How to Apply: Apply drops to a clean, damp scalp, focusing on any problem areas, 2-3 times a week. Part your hair into sections from the hairline to the crown of your head. Apply the drops directly to the scalp and gently massage with your fingertips. Do not rinse. Leave in and allow to dry naturally or blow-dry and style as usual.
Best For: Thinning hair, adding shine, damaged hair, split ends, and breakage
Size: 30 ml

Best for Oily Hair: Act+Acre 4% Niacinamide Oily Scalp Serum

Act+Acre

4% Niacinamide Oily Scalp Serum

Why We Love It: By now, you’ve heard of the congested skin-fighting powers of niacinamide when it’s applied to your face—but have you thought about using the same powerhouse ingredient on your scalp? Designed to control excess oil production before it begins, this pH-optimized daily scalp serum will leave your hair looking cleaner for longer, extending the time between washes. “I used to be able to shampoo my thick wavy hair twice a week max, but lately its been on the oilier side. I blame it on the summer heatwaves! I’ve only just started using it, but I’m already getting an extra day in between washes, versus my lengths looking limp on day two,” says Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue’s beauty shopping writer.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, fermented green tea extract, bio-fermented astragalus
How to Apply: For the best results, Act+Acre recommends applying the serum post-wash, on your damp scalp as a leave-in treatment. From there, you can reapply daily for maintenance.
Best For: Oily hair, scalp buildup
Size: 2.2 fl oz.

Best for Locking in Moisture: JVN Hair Complete Nourishing Shine Drops

JVN Hair

Complete Nourishing Shine Drops

Why We Love It: Per Hill, JVN Hair’s Shine Drops “allow the consumer to seal in moisture and shine that is weightless, nonsticky, and filled with moisture.” Great for blocking out humidity and protecting against fading color, it can also be used pre-blowout, as a curl refresher, or even as a daily moisturizer for medium to coarse hair types, she notes.
Key Ingredients: Meadowfoam esters, hemisqualane, hibiscus extract
How to Apply: Dispense a few drops into palms and rub together before smoothing down damp or dry mid-lengths and ends to tame frizz and add shine. Do not wash out.
Best For: Perfect for all hair types, especially those concerned with frizz control, flyaways, or dull and dry hair.
Size: 50 ml

Best for Beginners: The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Hyaluronic Acid Scalp Serum

Natural Moisturizing Factors + Hyaluronic Acid Scalp Serum

Why We Love It: The Ordinary’s scalp serum is a thoughtful buy for someone’s first foray into the world of hair serums. Infused with hyaluronic acid, squalane, and natural moisturizing ingredients, this lightweight milky serum works to hydrate dry, flaky scalps—or in Ciarlo’s case, sunburned scalps. “On a recent trip to the beach, I spent a little too much time playing mermaids in the ocean, and left with a sunburn on my scalp. In need of a quick fix, I made this serum one of my Prime Day beauty purchases. Affordable and instantly soothing, it quelled that itchy, ouch-y feeling immediately, and healed the sunburn within two days,” says Ciarlo.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, squalane, natural moisturizing factors.
How to Apply: Massage a few drops thoroughly onto a clean, dry scalp once daily, ideally at bedtime. This formula is a leave-in treatment. Do not wash hair or scalp after application.
Best For: Good for flaky and dry scalp.
Size: 60 ml

Best for Preventing Shedding: The Nue Co. Supa Thick Scalp Serum

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Why We Love It: Absolutely no one likes hair shedding, but if you think your hair needs some extra TLC to support hair retention, consider this serum by The Nue Co. that features a blend of the brand’s patented follicle technology, essential oils, and probiotics to cleanse, reduce the appearance of flakiness, and stimulate follicle circulation.
Key Ingredients: Redensyl™, essential oil blend, probiotic
How to Apply: Use two to three times per week. Do not wash out.
Best For: Thinning hair, dry, or flaky scalp
Size: 100 ml

Best for Enhancing Shine: Innersense Organic Beauty I Create Shine Glossing Serum

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Innersense

I Create Shine Glossing Serum

Why We Love It: Bid dull hair and frizzy flyaways goodbye after just one use of Innersense’s I Create Shine serum. As the name implies, it relies on a cocktail of nourishing oils—sesame, cranberry seed, and macadamia. These natural ingredients work harmoniously to deliver an extraordinary shine while smoothing the hair’s cuticles and sealing in moisture.
Key Ingredients: Organic sesame oil, macadamia and cranberry seed oil, lotus flower
How to Apply: Apply 1-2 drops of serum into the palms of your hands and smooth into mid-lengths and ends. Use on damp or dry hair as a finishing oil or hair perfume.
Best For: Provides glossy shine, shields from damage, improves hair elasticity
Size: 1.69 oz

Best for a Scalp Refresh: Odele Rejuvenating Scalp Serum

Why We Love It: Whenever senior beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden has to pack her overnight bag for a weekend getaway, this scalp serum is always comes with. “’I’ve been so wowed by this formula from Odele. It has everything I want in a hair serum—lightweight enough to not disturb my style, and packed to the brim with scalp-balancing, hair growth-boosting actives that my mane just drinks up. Even better, I’ve experienced less split ends since I started using it a few times per week,” she says.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, rosemary, caffeine
How to Apply: Apply one to two drops on sectioned dry or damp hair, then massage into the scalp.
Best For: All hair types looking to keep their scalp refreshed, without weighing down their lengths or disturbing their style.
Size: 2 fl oz

Best for Split Ends: Christophe Robin Regenerating Serum with Prickly Pear Oil

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Christophe Robin

Regenerating Serum with Prickly Pear Oil

Why We Love It: For a daily fix of the same regenerative goodness that Sofia Richie relied on to grow out her luscious hair (she evangelized the brand’s hair mask), this formula blends potent botanic ingredients like tucumba butter and castor oil for serious nourishment. Chief in the formula is prickly pear oil, known for its restorative properties—it smooths over the hair shaft and reduces the appearance of split ends. What’s more, this serum is multipurpose, offering both heat protection and reduced frizz.
Key Ingredients: Prickly pear seed oil, tucuma butter, castor oil
How to Apply: Apply a small amount to the lengths and ends of damp or dry hair. Do not rinse.
Best For: All hair types, especially dry and damaged hair
Size: 50 ml

Best for Natural Hair: Pattern Jojoba Oil Hair Serum

Why We Love It: Few emollients are as effective as jojoba oil, the hydrator that powers this Pattern hair Serum. Featuring goodies like safflower, rose-hip, olive, and lavender oils, this provides lightweight moisture to natural hair, especially those with low-porosity strands, working to prevent flakiness and itchiness.
Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, lavender oil, safflower oil
How to Apply: Apply a few drops to the palm of your hand and work the oil evenly into your hair. It can be used on wet or dry hair for added moisture. As a scalp treatment, apply a few drops to targeted areas around your head and massage the oil into your scalp.
Best For: Dryness, flaky and dry scalp, hair damage, split ends, breakage
Size: 115.3 ml

Best Scent: Ranavat Mighty Majesty-Fortifying Repair & Shine Hair Serum

Ranavat

Mighty Majesty hair serum

Why We Love It: South Asians know a thing or two about hair care, which is why we jumped at the chance to test Ranavat’s fortifying serum; an ayurvedic blend formulated with a blend of amla extract, Indian jasmine, and sunflower oil that smells so good it could double as hair perfume. The serum leaves your scalp nourished and your hair frizz-free and shiny after each use. You can apply it directly to the scalp or add a bit to the ends when styling.
Key Ingredients: Jasmine, amla, and sunflower oil
How to Apply: To increase shine and smooth flyaways, apply a pump onto your palms and smooth onto wet or dry hair; don’t rinse out. For deeper repair, apply generously as an overnight scalp and hair mask, then wash and style as usual the next day.
Best For: Damage, split ends, breakage, flaky, dry scalp, and adding shine
Size: 50 ml

Best for Breakage: Kérastase Genesis Hair Serum

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Why We Love It: What made this serum go viral? It all started with Emily Ratajkowski’s TikTok revealing how she recovered fromthe “worse haircut of her life.” Her usual hairstylist came to the rescue, coating her poorly chopped bangs sticking with a generous amount of Kérastase’s Genesis hair serum, to style them into submission. The formula blends potent ingredients—edelweiss native cells, niacinamide, and ginger root extract—to strengthen hair fibers, protecting against mechanical damage caused by frequent brushing or styling.
Key Ingredients: Hydrogenated castor oil, citric acid, niacinamide, aminexil, edelweiss native cells, ginger root extract.
How to Apply: Apply to damp hair post-shower, evenly working through hair from roots to ends.
Best For: Fortifying hair strands prone to mechanical damage and breakage
Size: 3.04 fl oz

Best for Fullness: Aavrani Hair Density Boosting Scalp Serum

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Aavrani

Hair Density Boosting Scalp Serum

Why We Love It: Our eyes lit up when reading this ingredient list, featuring ayurvedic staples like turmeric and Ashwagandha, which have thousands of years of proof in promoting fuller, thicker-looking hair. It’s a lightweight gel serum, so you can use it daily without worrying about it ruining your blowout. Plus, it smells amazing with notes of grapefruit, jasmine, and rose, making it perfect for baiting your crush.
Key Ingredients: Turmeric stem cells, vegan collagen, ashwagandha
How to Apply: Apply a few drops directly to your scalp, along the hairline, widening part, and/or any other areas of concern. Massage gently, wait a few minutes for the product to absorb, and do not rinse. Style as usual and use daily on a damp or dry scalp.
Best For: Anti-aging, thinning hair, color safe for color-treated hair
Size: 60 ml

Best for Damaged Hair: Pureology Strength Cure Dream Healer Serum

Pureology

Strength Cure Dream Healer Serum

Why We Love It: Pureology promises to help restore hair to its virgin health (a.k.a. long before you started bleaching, coloring, or heat styling it). This lightweight serum blends lactic, citric, and amino acids blend to seal the hair’s cuticle, and reduce future breakage—plus, it provides heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. “I style my bob more frequently than I did my long hair, because I love a mod flip at the end. With that in mind, I do worry that I’ve been a bit to rough with my thermal brush. More of a gel-like texture than liquidy, this serum still never weighs hair down after use. It also leaves it feeling and looking doll-like,” says Ciarlo.
Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, citric acid, amino acids
How to Apply:
Best For: Strengthens and repairing damaged or color-treated hair.
Size: 3.4 fl oz

Everything You Need to Know

According to Hill, “Hair serums should be viewed as water- or oil-based products that provide moisture, protection, and/or styling benefits for scalp or hair fibers and deliver optimal results in a weightless formulation.” She continues that hair serums targeting hair loss work by “creating a healthier scalp microbiome and hair follicle, which increases the numbers of hair fibers that each follicle produces.”

However, Hill emphasizes that these products work for hair-loss prevention not growth, as “there is no serum or active ingredient to date that is proven to grow hair.” She says that while you can’t make a dead follicle grow, you can restore and treat it when hair growth is disrupted.

Do hair serums actually work?

The effectiveness of a hair serum depends on its ingredients, formulation, and the underlying cause of hair loss, usually evaluated by a dermatologist. According to board-certified dermatologist Mona Mislankar, if you’re experiencing thinning hair rather than a diagnosed hair loss condition, over-the-counter formulations may be beneficial. Instead of relying solely on marketing claims, she advises focusing on the ingredients and formulations. “Ideally, you should choose a company with research-backed products and positive testimonials or results,” she suggests.

For addressing hair thinning potentially due to androgenetic alopecia, beneficial ingredients may include minoxidil, rosemary oil, pumpkin seed oil, caffeine, and saw palmetto. Additionally, ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids can help reduce scalp scaling, while vitamin E provides moisture, niacinamide improves hydration, and glycerin adds additional hydration to maintain scalp health.

Are hair serums good for hair?

“Certain formulations can absolutely benefit our hair by providing extra nourishment to the scalp or the hair itself,” says Mislankar. These ingredients are formulated to hydrate and moisturize the hair, with the ultimate goal of promoting hair growth. “Certain serums can also act as heat and UV protectants, which I find particularly helpful since our hair is regularly exposed to UV and heat damage.”

Is oil or serum better for hair?

According to Mislankar, the choice between oil and serum depends largely on the company and formulation rather than the vehicle itself. “There are many factors to consider,” she explains. “An oil can be highly nourishing for individuals with damaged or dry hair. However, it may be too greasy for those with fine or oily hair, who often prefer serums or foam-based products.”

While natural ingredients like rosemary oil and pumpkin seed oil have shown promise in improving hair growth, Mislankar advises patients interested in these ingredients to opt for formulated products over DIY oils. “The risk with DIY and homemade oils is that, although the ingredients are often natural, botanical extracts can still cause allergies or chemical burns, potentially leading to further hair damage.”

Asmi Berry, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles.
Bridgette Hill is a trichologist based in New York City.
Mona Mislankar, MD, is a Cincinnati-based board-certified dermatologist.

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